In general, losing your crown is not a dental emergency. The only time you’d need to call our emergency dentist for a broken crown is if the jagged edges of your tooth are sharp. In that case, you may need emergency dental care so you don’t cut your tongue or cheeks by accident.
However, most cases of lost crowns aren’t emergencies. Yet, at a minimum, you still need to schedule an appointment with our office to get your crown replaced on your tooth.
What Should I Do If My Crown Falls Out?
Don’t panic. If your dental crown falls out, the first thing you should do is call our office. That way, you can schedule an appointment as soon as possible to get your crown replaced. In the meantime, use over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce any pain or discomfort.
If your dental crown is intact, we recommend buying some from the drug store. Simply clean the inside of your dental crown, apply the cement to your actual tooth, and place your dental crown on top. Hold the crown in place until the cement dries. This will protect your tooth until you can see our dentist and get your crown permanently repaired or replaced.
If your dental crown is broken, we still recommend keeping it to show our emergency dentist. Dr. Lebster may still be able to use your dental crown if it’s in good condition. In the meantime, you can mold over your tooth so it’s protected. Most drug stores sell dental putty — it’s also used to push wire braces back into place.
Can I Still Eat If My Crown Falls Out?
You can eat without your crown, but you need to protect your tooth first with dental cement or dental putty. Once you protect your tooth, you should be able to eat, although you’ll need to stay away from foods that are hard to chew or sticky. That way, you won’t pull off your crown again by accident or damage your tooth. It’s also best if you chew on the opposite side of your dental crown.
What If I Swallowed My Crown?
Call a medical doctor immediately if you think you swallowed your crown by accident. There’s a chance you could have instead aspirated it (i.e., breathed it in), and your dental crown is now in your lungs. A medical doctor will take X-rays to see where the dental crown went. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
If you did in fact swallow your dental crown, it should pass in a few days. Dental crowns are small and smooth, which makes it easy for them to pass through the digestive tract.
If My Crown Falls Out, Can It Be Reused?
It depends on the condition of your dental crown. If your crown is intact, our dentist may be able to place it back on your tooth. Otherwise, our dentist will need to make you a new crown for your tooth.
If you need a new dental crown, our dentist will take impressions of your teeth to send to the lab. He’ll then place a temporary crown over your tooth. When you return for your second appointment, your permanent crown will be ready.
Request an Appointment for Your New Crown Today
If your crown has fallen out, you’ll need to schedule an appointment to get it replaced. Dr. Ryan Lebster is an emergency dentist in Holland, MI, who can fix or replace your crown. To request an appointment, call RediDental Emergency Dental Care at (616) 796-3200, or contact us online.
This blog post has been updated.
